Manssor Arbabsair and Gholam Shakuri were charged. Shakuri's an Iranian-based Revolutionary Guard Quds Force member. Arbabsair's a naturalized US citizen. He holds an Iranian passport. On May 30, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

On May 30, the State Department released it "Country Reports on Terrorism 2012." It assesses "international terrorism" throughout the year. It does so country-by-country.

It highlighted Iran and Hezbollah, saying:

"A marked resurgence of Iran's state sponsorship of terrorism, through its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), its Ministry of Intelligence and Security, and Tehran's ally Hizballah was noted."

"Iran's state sponsorship of terrorism and Hizballah's terrorist activity have reached a tempo unseen since the 1990s, with attacks plotted in Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa."

"Both Iran and Hizballah also continued to provide a broad range of support to the Asad regime, as it continues its brutal crackdown against the Syrian people."

On May 15, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman addressed Senate Foreign Relations Committee members.

She discussed "multiple" Iranian challenges posed by "its nuclear ambitions, its support for international terrorism and destabilizing activities in the region, and its human rights abuses at home."

She falsely claimed Iran defies the international community. It's "one of the greatest global concerns we face," she said.

"Iran is the world's foremost state sponsor of terrorism, which it uses as a strategic tool of its foreign policy."

"(T)he 'Iran Threat Network' comprises an alliance of surrogates, proxies, and partners such as Hizballah, HAMAS, and Iraqi Shi'a militants, among others."

"Iran funds, trains, and equips these terrorist organizations, in whole or in part, to use in attacks around the world."

Hezbollah "continues to be a key partner and substantial part of Iran's threat network."

"Hizballah and the Iranian leadership share a worldview and strategic vision and are seeking to exploit the current unrest in the Middle East and North Africa to their advantage."

Sherman accused Iran of "training, arming, funding, aiding and abetting the Asad regime and its atrocious crackdown on its own people."

"It is coordinating its intervention in Syria with Hizballah, which is itself engaged in training pro-regime militants who attack Syrian civilians, and in direct fighting on behalf of the Asad regime against the Syrian people."

"Iran and Hizballah fighters are also directing the activities of Iraqi militia groups which have been enlisted to join in the Asad regime's war against the Syrian people."

"Iran has shown that it is willing to potentially destabilize an entire region if it means keeping the Syrian regime as an ally."

"Countering such efforts remains a key priority for the Administrationâ€¦."

Washington wants unchallenged regional dominance. It's ravaging one country after another to achieve it. It's partnered with Israel to do so. Key NATO countries are involved. So are rogue Arab state allies.

They may end up with more than they bargained for. Partnering with Washington is risky. Be careful what you wish for. Things may not turn out as planned.

Full-scale war on Syria may spread cross borders. The entire region could become embroiled. Global war is possible. Imagine if it went nuclear. Imagine the consequences if it happens. They're too grim to risk.

War is America's strategy of choice. Israel operates the same way. Syria's in the eye of the storm. Both countries plan full-scale intervention. Events head incrementally toward doing so.

Events head incrementally toward full-scale Syrian intervention. Israel's actively aiding Al Qaeda, Al Nusra and other extremist elements. So is Washington. Both countries pretend otherwise. They want the region redrawn in their own image.

One war segues to others. Divide, conquer and control reflect policy. It's the oil, other valued resources and more. Unchallenged dominance is sought. Redrawing the region facilitates it. Strategy includes manufacturing threats.

US and Israeli pressure got Germany to declare Hezbollah a terrorist organization. Its longstanding position resisted. Other Western nations may pile on. Britain formally requested EU countries do so. Israel urged them earlier.

Hezbollah's aiding its Syrian ally. It has every right to do so. Its own interests are at stake. Syria's downfall could mean its own.

Mossad-connected DEBKAfile (DF) claims Assad plans a Golan offensive against Syria. It said doing so is "the next stage of the Syrian war, which, if Tehran and Hizbollah have their way, will evolve in a war of attrition against Israel waged from the Syrian Golan."

It claimed Iranian forces will be involved. Once "hostilities against Israel" begin, "it will be hard to stop the violence from spreading to Israel's borders with Lebanon, from Syria into Turkey, and from Jordan into Syria and Iraq."

A second DF report headlined "Israel's dithering over Golan strikes gives Assad go-ahead for war of attrition."

"(B)acked by Iran and Hizbollah," Assad's "resolve(d) to turn the divided Golan into the next 'resistance front' against Israel." DF claims Syria and Hezbollah plan "to launch an escalating campaign of aggression across (Israel's) borders."

Saying so turns truth on its head. Assad has no aggressive intentions. Washington, Israel, and partnered countries head toward full-scale war on Syria. Falsely accusing Assad facilitates doing so.

It bears continued repeating. Libya 2.0 looms. It may come sooner than expected. Proposed Geneva II talks have no chance to succeed.

Syrian National Coalition officials won't participate. Refusal to do so assures failure. Proceeding will be an exercise in futility.

Peace talks are subterfuge. They mask war plans. Washington, Israel and partnered countries incrementally head toward doing so full-blown.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book is titled "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

It airs Fridays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

Anyone with 1/2 a brain,understands that america is the greatest purveyor of violence and the largest exporter of terrorism the world has ever seen bent on global economic,political and social domination until it wins the game of 'Risk'. In order to stop this united states of mordor the rest of the world needs to unite,confront,occupy disarm and then dissolve the united states of sparta...forever...
1)Frogs on Boil with a Case of the Gas Chamber Syndrome...
Duh red white and blue flying high and majestic
the clean-cut troops so young and strong fighting for their country
what a meiotic service for gold they march to and perform on behalf of...but for whom?
if our enemy is ferocious why do we eradicate their women and children over there yet they never come here?
Tell me america, what afghan has ever bombed your town?
what afghan terrorist has ever broke down the door to your home terrorizing you and your family?
what afghan soldier has ever killed your sister brother son or mother by bullet bomb or drone in your own neighborhood?
why do you do to them what you came here and did, so long ago, so consistently?
Everyone over here supports the troops...so they would need you to believe
everyone within worships the military like they were a sinless unquestionable demi-god
everyone is expected to obediently blindly support without question, with apathy and distain for their suffering
everyone in the usa needs to ascertain what is done in their name
Where is the Iraqi child walking the streets in his home who ever did you harm?
what Iraqi woman wondering what dreams will manifest in her life ever fired a tank shell at your town then giggled on video?
which Iraqi man has ever come over here to militarily occupy your nation since you posses what he craves?
why did you terrorize and occupy for so many years at the price of your soul?
For just like good german villagers in Bavaria back in 43
living oblivious to the horror in the smoke coming from the ovens just over the next hill
a white rose roared to wake up the sleep pretenders but were guillotined for daring to alight conscience
70 years later a whistleblower here in the land of the free who did the same thing might suffer the same fate
Do you have any idea concerning the sickening suffering that your support inflicts?
do you know the numbers or the names of the dead, of the wounded, of the orphans...do you even care?
i wish i could see all the names of everyone who has suffered from usa military
float down from the sky on a piece of paper on every school, on every church, every town and government office in the good ol' united states of mordor
Ah but of course you've absolved yourself of responsibility & accountability so such an act would faze few
for you've anointed yourself a good christian, an exceptional, an indispensable city on the hill
you have an untouchable conduct code, a civic compass & always the impeccable moral high ground
collateral residue your taxes pay for as a condolence payment & its blood money but does it really pay?
The anguish you inflict is beyond any justification at any level for any reason
the agony of xenophobic abuse you support with fireworks &hot dogs is a shackle & chain you must bear
the cost of your sins will reverberate through time and your nation will be synonymous with evil
the suffering you ignore is the price your kids will pay
You're manipulated by manufactured fear
you're dissonant frogs slowly being boiled in your own excretion
you're a battery, bled milked cheated and above all, lied to
you're a empire of pompous consuming locust who are afflicted by the Gas Chamber Syndrome...